Treatment FAQ

what is the treatment for aujeszky's disease in pigs

by Delia Auer Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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As there’s no specific treatment against the virus, the best prevention and control tool is vaccination. In general, it’s recommended that all pigs on the farm, reproductive male and female, undergo mass vaccination three times a year at regular intervals. This mass vaccination helps reduce the excretion of the virus and improves survival.

There is no treatment although hyper-immune serum may protect piglets less than 4 weeks old in some countries. Control is by herd vaccination in countries where the disease is widespread and by prevention of re-infection where eradication has taken place.

Full Answer

How can Aujeszky’s disease be eradicated?

Aujeszky’s disease has been eradicated by slaughtering herds containing infected animals or by vaccinating herds to reduce disease and then slaughtering pigs with antibody to wild type virus. Wind can spread virus for 2-17 km on land and 70 km over water, so eradication is best carried out on an area basis.

What is Aujeszky’s disease?

Aujeszky’s Disease is caused by infection with a herpes virus, Suid herpesvirus 1 (SHV) which multiplies in the nuclei of the cells of the pig to lyse (kill) them, to form syncytia (merge them) or to produce a characteristic intranuclear inclusion body. It can be grown in tissue culture in the laboratory. It is a DNA virus.

What is the histopathology of pneumonia produced by Aujeszky's disease virus in pigs?

The histopathology of pneumonia produced by aerosol infection of pigs with a strain of Aujeszky's disease virus. Res Vet Sci. 1971 Nov;12(6):590–592. [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] Baskerville A. Ultrastructural changes in the pulmonary airways of pigs infected with a strain of Aujesky's disease virus.

How do you test for Aujeszky disease?

Confirmation of disease is by laboratory tests for virus in tissues of infected pigs, especially from tonsillar swabs, or for antibody in serum samples from whole or part of a herd. Post-mortem findings such as necrotic (dead) tonsils or nasal septum and turbinates (conchae) may indicate Aujeszky’s disease.

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What are the treatments for pseudorabies?

How is Pseudorabies Treated? There is no treatment but antibiotic medications can control secondary bacterial infections. PRV vaccines are available, require USDA approval for use, and can be used to assist in outbreak response efforts.

What causes Aujeszky's disease in pigs?

Aujeszky's Disease (AD) or Pseudorabies is a notifiable infectious disease of pigs. It is caused by a herpes virus and other species are also susceptible, for example, cattle, sheep, dogs and cats. It is not transmissible to humans.

How is Aujeszky's disease transmitted?

Aujeszky's disease is usually spread by nose-to-nose contact with an infected pig (direct contact), but aerosol transmission through respiratory secretions can also occur. The virus can be spread on fomites (objects in contact with infected animals or their environment) or in the carcasses of infected pigs.

Is there a vaccine for pseudorabies?

A pseudorabies vaccine from which both the thymidine kinase and a glycoprotein gene have been deleted, and the E1 gene of classical swine fever (hog cholera) virus inserted, provides protection against both pseudorabies and classical swine fever in regions where both viruses are enzootic.

Can dogs catch disease from pigs?

In addition to the risk of physical injury, dogs can be exposed to many disease pathogens carried by feral swine. One of the most dangerous diseases that can be transmitted by feral swine to dogs is pseudorabies (also known as “mad itch” or Aujeszky's disease) because it is often fatal to dogs.

What are the symptoms of pseudorabies?

Signs include a febrile response, depression, anorexia, sneezing, coughing and nasal discharge. CNS signs occur in occasional pigs and vary in severity from tremors to convulsions. Most pigs recover in about seven to ten days.

What causes paralysis in pigs?

The Teschen virus cannot infect people or other animals and the human polioviruses can not infect pigs. Affected pigs develop an ascending paralysis of muscles which may progress to a complete hind end paralysis. It is an infection of the motor nerves only and not the sensory nerves.

Is Aujeszky's disease zoonotic?

There are no human health implications because the disease is not zoonotic.

Can humans get pseudorabies?

However, pseudorabies virus (PRV) can infect most mammals, to include, cattle, goats, sheep, dogs, cats, and wild animals such as opossums, raccoons, rodents, and skunks, except humans, horses and birds.

How is pseudorabies diagnosed?

Diagnosis. In addition to the gross and microscopic lesions, other diagnostic aids to identify pseudorabies virus include virus isolation, PCR fluorescent antibody testing, and serologic testing. Brain, spleen, and lung are the organs of choice for virus isolation.

How is pseudorabies caused?

Pseudorabies is a disease caused by the pseudorabies virus in the herpes family, which primarily affects swine but is occasionally transmitted from pigs to cattle, sheep, goats, dogs, cats, and wild animals. It is also known as Aujeszky's disease and “mad itch.” Pseudorabies is not related to rabies.

How common is pseudorabies?

Pseudorabies encephalomyelitis in sheep or goats has been reported only rarely, but infection may be acquired through the bite of an infected pig, from exposure of open wounds or mucous membranes, iatrogenically, and by the airborne route.

What is Aujeszky's disease?

Aujeszky's disease. The Aujeszky's disease is caused by a virus that can remain latent and causes respiratory, reproductive and nervous problems. Alternative names: Pseudorabies (PRV)

How to maintain disease outside of farm?

In order to maintain the disease outside the farm, isolate all new animals and obtain blood samples before they enter the farm. If your farm is in danger of getting the disease, this means if there are infected farms in a radio of 3 km, vaccinate all the animals.

How long does a pig's virus last?

The virus can survive up to 3 weeks outside the pig.

How can a disease be eradicated?

Due to the fact that the disease is slowly transmitted, it can be eradicated through vaccination, good management practices, and elimination of animals that carry the disease.

What are the clinical signs of pigs?

Clinical signs include reproductive failure and CNS and respiratory signs in growing pigs. The diagnosis is suspected based on clinical signs and confirmed by serology, PCR, or viral isolation. There is no specific treatment, but highly effective vaccines are available. The disease is reportable and has been successfully eradicated ...

What are the symptoms of a pig?

Clinical signs in pigs include reproductive failure in pregnant sows and CNS and respiratory signs in growing pigs. Pseudorabies is a reportable disease and has been successfully eradicated from commercial swine in the USA but is still present at low levels in wild pigs.

How do you know if a pig has pseudorabies?

Clinical signs of pseudorabies virus in pigs depend on the age of the affected animal. Young swine are highly susceptible, and losses may reach 100% in piglets <7 days old. In general, signs of CNS disease (eg, tremors and paddling) are seen. If weaned pigs are infected, respiratory disease is the primary clinical problem, especially if complicated by secondary bacterial pathogens. Pseudorabies virus has been reported to inhibit the function of alveolar macrophages, thereby reducing the ability of these cells to process and destroy bacteria. A generalized febrile response (41°–42°C [105.8°–107.6°F]), anorexia, and weight loss are seen in infected pigs of all ages. Mortality can be very low (1%–2%) in grower and finisher pigs but may reach 50% in nursery pigs. Sneezing and dyspnea are frequently seen, and CNS involvement is reported occasionally. Clinical signs in nonporcine species, such as cats, dogs, cattle, and small ruminants, include sudden death, intense local pruritus, CNS signs (circling, maniacal behavior, paralysis), fever, and respiratory distress.

How do pseudorabies get infected?

Pseudorabies virus can be transmitted via nose-to-nose or fecal-oral contact. Indirect transmission commonly occurs via inhalation of aerosolized virus. Data from England indicate that virus may travel via aerosols for up to 2 km in certain weather conditions. Other studies have demonstrated that the virus can survive for up to 7 hours in nonchlorinated well water; for 2 days in anaerobic lagoon effluent and in green grass, soil, feces, and shelled corn; for 3 days in nasal washings on plastic and pelleted hog feed; and for 4 days in straw bedding. The virus is enveloped and, therefore, inactivated by drying, sunlight, and high temperatures (≥37°C [98.6°F]). Dead-end hosts, such as dogs, cats, or wildlife, can transmit the virus between farms, but these animals survive only 2–3 days after becoming infected. Birds do not seem to play a role in transmission.

What is pseudorabies in 2021?

Last full review/revision Jan 2021 | Content last modified Jan 2021. Pseudorabies is an acute, often fatal, viral disease with a worldwide distribution. Swine are the primary host, but other species are also occasionally infected. Clinical signs include reproductive failure and CNS and respiratory signs in growing pigs.

What is the pig reservoir host?

The pig is the only reservoir host, but the virus can infect cattle, sheep, cats, dogs, and goats as well as wildlife, including raccoons, opossums, skunks, and rodents. Reports of human and equine infection are rare.

Can PCR confirm pseudorabies?

Can be confirmed by serology, PC R, and virus isolation. In addition to the gross and microscopic lesions, other diagnostic aids to identify pseudorabies virus include virus isolation, PCR fluorescent antibody testing, and serologic testing. Brain, spleen, and lung are the organs of choice for virus isolation.

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Description of The Disease

  • The disease proceeds in an acute form. It is provoked by damage to the central nervous system. It is accompanied by severe itching in all animals except fur and pigs. Piglets provoke cramps, paralysis, ultimately leading to death. In adults, it proceeds under the guise of a fever. In pigs, a v…
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Causes of The Disease

  • More often, the virus enters pig farms with rodents and other animals infected with the disease, and is also transmitted by parasite insects (lice, fleas). The causative agent is a DNA-containing virus that builds into the cells of an animal’s DNA and begins to make its own changes. As a result, the body works against itself. The virus is able to persist for a long time in hay, water. Res…
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Symptoms and Signs of The Disease

  • Most often, the precursor of the disease is the death of cats, dogs and rodents on the farm. When infected with a livestock of pigs, rats abruptly leave their homes and migrate to a safer place. The virus enters the body of animals through the respiratory tract and oral mucosa. From there, seeping through the walls of blood vessels into the blood, the virus spreads throughout the body…
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Diagnostic Methods

  • The death of individuals suffering from a severe form of the disease occurs on the 3rd day. The bodies of animals are the subject of a pathoanatomical analysis, on the basis of which a final diagnosis is made. The main subject of research is the brain, lungs, liver and spleen. It is in these organs that the highest concentration of viral cells is observed. The purpose of such analyzes is …
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Active Disease Prevention

  • As active prophylaxis, vaccination of animals with the STI vaccine is used. The schedule of preventive vaccination in accordance with age and the dosage of the drug in a solution of 1:50: 1. piglets 2-15 days - 0.5 ml first, after 20 days 1 ml; 2. piglets 16-60 days - 1 ml, after 20 days 2 ml; 3. weaning 2-3 months - 2 ml, after 20 days 2 ml; 4. 3–6 months - 2 ml; after 20 days, 2 ml; 5. ad…
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Information

  • It is a very important swine disease caused by a herpesvirus. The virus can remain latent in the nervous tissue of the pig for long periods of time, and be reactivated. Once the virus has been introduced in a farm, it normally persists in it and can continuously affect performance at different levels. The virus can survive up to 3 weeks outside the pig. Acute outbreaks of the disease can b…
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Symptoms

  • Sows 1. Cough. 2. Pneumonia. 3. Nervous symptoms. 4. Reproductive failure. 5. Abortion. 6. Mummified piglets. 7. Piglets born death. 8. Weak litters at birth. Lactating piglets 1. Nervous symptoms. 2. Incoordination. 3. Sneezing. 4. Cough. 5. Pneumonia. 6. Increased mortality. 7. Non-viable piglets. Weaners and growers 1. Fever. 2. Sneezing. 3. Cough. 4. Pneumonia. 5. Some stra…
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Causes / Contributing Factors

  1. The field virus can be transmitted between farms through subclinically infectded pigs.
  2. Airborne transmission can happen at a distance of severe kilometers.
  3. Wild boars can transmit the disease.
  4. The role of birds as mechanical carriers is in question
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Control/Prevention

  1. There is no available treatment, but antibiotic use in order to control secondary bacterial infections must be considered.
  2. Vaccination must be done when an acute outbreak appears, or as a control or preventive measure.
  3. Gilts and boars must be bought from farms free of Aujeszky’s disease and must be vaccinate…
  1. There is no available treatment, but antibiotic use in order to control secondary bacterial infections must be considered.
  2. Vaccination must be done when an acute outbreak appears, or as a control or preventive measure.
  3. Gilts and boars must be bought from farms free of Aujeszky’s disease and must be vaccinated at their arrival or in the quarantine area.
  4. In order to maintain the disease outside the farm, isolate all new animals and obtain blood samples before they enter the farm.

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